Personally I think his comeback damaged his reputation. If he wanted to continue more time driving in F1 he should have signed with Merc in the summer, he delayed the descission too much.

First I also thought it did damage his reputation but in fact it didn't...he is 43 years old and still could challenge his team mate Nico Rosberg who is widely thought to be one of the fastest drivers in formula 1. Next season when Hamilton will parter Nico, we will also that Schumis speed was indeed still there...he was not in his best form but still at very high level, you don't take monaco poleposition if you are slow. Sad to see him gone, would have liked to see him on track.

In the past 6 years I have learned a lot, also about me, and I am thankful for it: for example, that you can open yourself up without losing focus. That losing can be both more difficult and more instructive than winning; something I had lost out of sight sometimes in earlier years. That you have to appreciate to be able to do what you love. That you have to live your convictions. I have opened my horizon, and I am at ease with myself.

Sad to hear indeed. I cannot imagine him in a managerial role - it's just not him. His place is at the race tracks, at high speeds, even if he is sometimes overdoing it.

Why did he retire (if this is indeed true, I still can't believe it)?

We can only speculate. Probably for Michael the risk of failing to perform at Sauber was too high - he already did not really cover himself with laurel at his Mercedes stint - so more of the same would have not been good for his legacy.

I always admired Jackie Stewart for retiring on top. Also Niki Lauda retiring while nearly winning his last race at Adelaide 1985. Senna was leading his last race....that's how we remember those champs.

Farewell Michael, if this is indeed the end.

What will we discuss here on the BB in the future? Hamilton's extravaganzas?

A just decision. I couldn't manage to see him in Sauber or Williams, so retirement is befitting to his career, although that will still hurt. It was not a perfect comeback perhaps, but still a pleasure to watch and follow. He didn't tarnish his reputation the slightest. He tried, but it wasn't meant to be. There is nothing to be ashamed of failing. It's the try that matters. Well done and thank you Michael. I am going to savor for your last six races.

I'm glad he came back and showed he wasn't just in F1 for the wins and the glory, that he also had a genuine desire to race. There's still a chance he can get lucky and finish on a high (Mansell-style!*)

Michael deserves no less respect than he did when he retired the first time. He came back because he loves F1 and he wanted to ofcourse win. But its a shame he had to retire this way. Its for the best, i wouldnt have liked to see him in Sauber. He has done very well for his age. Hope to see him continue to be associated with F1. See you around Michael !!

Sometimes things just don't work out and these three years have been exactly that. He should walk out with his head held high. He's still a champion who has had the courage to come out of his retirement and fight the magnificent crop of drivers currently on the grid.

First I also thought it did damage his reputation but in fact it didn't...he is 43 years old and still could challenge his team mate Nico Rosberg who is widely thought to be one of the fastest drivers in formula 1..

No he isn't, and the only people who keep trotting out this nonsense are desperate Schumacher fans.

Schumacher's comeback was passable at best and he is showing himself much smarter than many of his fans by calling it quits when he still has a shred of dignity. He was a great driver in his day, but time has simply caught up with him, as it does with all people in the end. Even though I'm no fan, I hope he was a few good races to finish the year, would be nice if he managed a podium.

Not cool. I wanted a final swansong in the Ferrari with a race win at some point, this is not justice. He needed to finish his career on a high, I wonder what this has done to the legend that is Michael Schumacher? Because lets be honest, his comeback was a total failure, he needs to win one race out of these next 6, that will be justice served.

He's been more than quick enough this year and his scraps when he's qualified ahead of faster cars proves it. The problem is with the Merc is that when it was quick, his car wasn't reliable enough and by the time it did get reliable (Germany onwards) they had clearly fallen back. 2010 he wasn't quick enough, I'll give you that.

Either way, I'm slightly gutted. At his age to still be able to dice it with those much younger drivers and come out on top is really saying something. He's a legend through and through and the fact that he was still able to perform at his age is nothing short of remarkable. Happy retirement Michael, the sport will undoubtedly lose a few fans (once again) now you've left.

He made it back onto the podium in that dog of a car, he snatched a pole position (time wise) around the tight twisting streets of Monaco. He still had it, retiring was his decision he had the option to stay.He doesn't want to run around in the midfield any more. He has shown Rosberg the way this season even if the points tally doesn't express that. That's down to Schumacher's Mercedes, not his performance.

Retirement would have a hurt a little had he been replaced by a Di Resta or Hulkenburg... he has been replaced by Hamilton who is labelled as one of the sports greatest, just like 2007 and Raikkonen. It takes a lot of talent at the peak of it's game to take Schumacher's place.

I thought his comeback was very good. He was/is mighty quick for a 43 year old and by this time in his second career he is doing as well as anyone else with the exception of around 3 major mistakes per year as opposed to the old "1 mistake per year" Schumacher v1.

I will be watching the older drivers in F1 with a renewed interest from now on, as I was under the assumption that elite sportsmen are never competitive past the age of 40 due to degenaration of their cognitive and physical abilities. Schumacher has proved a lot of people wrong in that area (even though the press will lead us to believe otherwise)

BTW, does anyone else notice, in Schumacher's press statement, a lack of faith in Mercedes Benz ? I may just be a skeptic here but these comment to me looks like Schumacher was a bit disgruntled towards the end of it all :

Already during the past weeks and months I was not sure if I would still have the motivation and energy which is necessary to go on; and it is not my style to do anything which I am not 100% convinced about. With today’s decision I feel released from those doubts. In the end, it is not my ambition to just drive around but to fight for victories; and the pleasure of driving is nourished by competitiveness.

It is without doubt that we did not achieve our goal to develop a world championship fighting car within those 3 years. It is also without doubt that I cannot provide a long term perspective to anyone. But then it is also clear that I can still be very happy about my overall achievements in Formula 1.

To me it seems like this comeback is not all that memorable for him at all, since he is refering to the satisfaction with "the overall achievements" he has in F1.

It's ok, he's had enough, let's just enjoy his last 6 races.
Thank you Schumacher for beeing the racer that you are and have been all these years.
It was a joy to watch, amazing to wittness, and will always be remembered.
He is a true legend and the biggest champion F1 has ever seen.

Retirement would have a hurt a little had he been replaced by a Di Resta or Hulkenburg... he has been replaced by Hamilton who is labelled as one of the sports greatest, just like 2007 and Raikkonen. It takes a lot of talent at the peak of it's game to take Schumacher's place.